CBFC likely to certify films online by March 2017
Thu, 10 Mar 2016-06:45am , New Delhi , dna
Filmmakers welcome the move, but say censorship of films remain a major concern
The online film certification process in the country will be made operational by March next year, sources from the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) ministry said.
"We recently had a meeting in this regard and have also invited bids for the software to be used for tracking the status of the films," said a senior I&B official.
The official said while the rudimentary set up is likely to be ready in the next six months, the system should be fully operational by March 2017.
Minister of state for I&B Rajyavardhan Rathore had announced about the measure last year at the IFFI in Goa and had said the online film certification process will protect the rights of filmmakers.
"Once the system becomes online, there will be minimum human interference and hence there will be more transparency. The producer will have to come just once for submission of the film to the CBFC," the official said.
"The status of the film can be tracked online and the software will generate the date for its screening," the official said, adding that the producer would be alerted about the date through a text message.
However, the new online film certification system will be operational under the existing Cinematograph Act, 1952. The I&B ministry has recently appointed a committee headed by veteran filmmaker Shyam Benegal to suggest the revamp of CBFC.
One of the aspects that the committee is looking at is to make the board a certification agency based based on rating films under different categories and doing away with its power of censoring content from the films.
Speaking to dna about the online certification process, Benegal said the CBFC will have to carry on with its regular functions, including making film certification online, even as the committee would come up with suggestions on its operations. The committee was to submit its report this month end, but has sought an extension from the I&B ministry.
A senior I&B official said, "Even for exclusively rating system, the online certification process for CBFC would still be equally relevant."
Veteran filmmakers lauded the move, but said censorship of films remains their chief concern.
Filmmaker Saeed Mirza said, "Certifying films online will make the process easier for us, but our main concern censorship. Every film should be cleared with different ratings, but none should be censored by CBFC."
